Brassiere

ABSTRACT

This disclosure relates to a brassiere of the uplift type which includes a pair of breast cups joined together and having extension panels secured to the remote ends thereof, and cooperating attaching means carried by the remote ends of the extension panels. The brassiere is further provided with a single elastic band extending entirely along the lower edge of the brassiere and terminating in connected relation to the attaching means whereby the entire lower portion of the brassiere snugly fits a wearer&#39;&#39;s body with lower portions of the breast cups being snugly retained in place.

United States Patent Brantly 51 May 30, 1972 [54] BRASSIERE Newby 0. Brantly, 1104 Rebecca Rd., Frederick, Okla. 73542 22 Filed: May 4,1970

21 Appl.No.: 34,109

[72] Inventor:

[5 2] U.S. Cl '.128/494 [51] Int. Cl ..A4lc 3/00 [58] Field of Search 1 28/484, 487, 494, 504, 508

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,491,762 l/ 1970 Simonsen 128/484 Primary Examiner.lames R. Boler AttorneyCharles R. Allen [57] ABSTRACT This disclosure relates to a brassiere of the uplift type which includes a pair of breast cups joined together and having extension panels secured to the remote ends thereof, and cooperating attaching means carried by the remote ends of the extension panels. The brassiere is further provided with a single elastic band extending entirely along the lower edge of the brassiere and terminating in connected relation to the attaching means whereby the entire lower portion of the brassiere snugly fits a wearers body with lower portions of the breast cups being snugly retained in place.

4 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures Patented May 30, 1972 M-S A I/ U34 ATTURNEf BRASSIERE This invention relates in general to new and useful improvements in brassieres, and more particularly to a brassiere of the v uplift type.

A primary feature of this invention is the provision of a single elastic band extending entirely around the lower edge of the brassiere and terminating in connected relation relative to attaching means of the brassiere whereby the entire lower portion of the brassiere snugly fits a wearer s body with lower portions of breast cups of the brassiere being snugly retained in place.

Another feature of this invention is the provision of a brassiere in accordance with the foregoing wherein only the upper edge portion of the elastic band is secured to the remainders of the brassiere, thereby permitting the elastic band to be free to conform to the wearers body and snugly engage the same.

Another feature of the invention is the securement of the terminal ends of the elastic band to terminal panels which carry suitable attaching means, the elastic band being secured for the full height thereof to the terminal panels whereby the elastic band is firmly anchored with respect to the fastening means.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a brassiere of the uplift type wherein in addition to the usual breast cups, a breast shelf is positioned within each breast cup, the breast shelves and the breast cups being secured together and to the upper edge of a single elastic band which extends entirely around the lower part of the brassiere and serves to firmly anchor lower portions of the breast pockets and breast shelves to the wearers body.

With the above and other objects in view that will hereinafter appear, the nature of the invention will be more clearly understood by reference to the following detailed description, the appended claims and the several views illustrated in the accompanying drawings:

IN THE DRAWINGS:

FIG. 1 is a top view of the brassiere in accordance with this invention and shows generally the details thereof.

' FIG. 2 is a generally front perspective view of the brassiere in its position of wear.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that there is illustrated a typical brassiere formed in accordance with this invention, the brassiere being generally identified by the numeral 5. The brassiere 5 is formed of a pair of breast pockets 6 along a centrally located seam 7. While the breast pockets 6 may be of any desired construction, in accordance with this invention, each breast pocket or cup 6 is formed of a lower panel 8 and a pair of upper panels 9 and 10, the upper panels being connected together along a seam 11 and to the lower panel 8 along a seam 12.

The breast cups or pockets 6 are connected at their remote ends to extension panels 13 along seams 14. The extension panels 13 may be considered to be side or rib panels and are, in turn, joined along seams 15 to further extension panels 16 which may be considered back panels.

In order to facilitate the securement of the brassiere 5 in place, one of the extension panels 16 has secured thereto a terminal panel 17 bearing a plurality of conventional hooks 18. The other of the extension panels 16 has secured to the terminal end thereof a terminal panel 20 which is provided with two rows of eyes 21 with which the hooks 18 may be selectively engaged.

The brassiere 5 also includes a pair of shoulder straps 22 which have the back ends thereof permanently secured to the extension panels 13 generally along the seams 15. The front ends of the shoulder straps are adjustably secured to clasps 24 which, in turn, are connected by means of short straps 25 to the upper portions of the breast cups 6.

A primary feature of the brassiere 5 is the provision of a single piece elastic band 26 which extends entirely between the terminal panels 17 and 20 along the lower edge of the brassiere. The terminal ends of the elastic band 26 are secured for their full height to the terminal panels 17 and 20 so that firm anchorage of the elastic band 26 is assured.

The upper edge only of the elastic band 26 is connected to the remainder of the brassiere along a seam 27. That is, the upper edge only of the elastic band 26 is secured to the lower edges of the breast cups 6, the extension panels 13 and the extension panels 16. Accordingly, the elastic band 26 is free to twist relative to the remainder of the brassiere and thereby conform to the wearers body. At the same time, it functions to hold the breast cups securely in place. Because the elastic band 26 is continuous, it will be apparently that it will apply equal pressure around ones body and thereby not place an undue pressure on any portion of a wearer's body.

It is to be understood that the elastic band 26 is preferably one of decorative appearance. It is also to be understood that all edge portions of the brassiere will be provided with suitable bindings, as are the various seams. However, inasmuch as these in of themselves do not form a part of the invention, they are not specifically described herein.

It is also to be understood that the brassiere 5, if desired, may be of the uplift type; When the brassiere is of such a construction, each breast cup 6 will be provided with a breast shelf 30 with the two breast shelves being joined together centrally of the brassiere along a seam 31. The opposite ends of the breast shelves 30 will be joined to the breast cups 6 and extension panels 13 along the seams 14. In addition, the lower edges of the breast shelves 30 will be secured to the elastic band 26 along the seam 27.

In order to support each of the breast shelves in a breast supporting position, each breast shelf has attached thereto a generally inverted U-shaped breast strap 32. Each breast strap 32 has a centrally located end portion which is disposed generally co-extensive with the central edges of the breast shelves and the adjacent edges of the breast straps 32 are secured to one another and the breast shelves along the seam 33. In addition, the extreme lower ends of the breast strap portions 33 are secured to the elastic band 26 along the seam 27.

The remote terminal end portions 34 of the breast straps 32 have the outer edges thereof incorporated in the seams 14 and are thus secured to both the breast shelves 30 and to the breast cups 6. In addition, the extreme lower edges of the portions 34 of the breast straps are secured to the elastic band 26 by incorporation in the seam 27 It is to be further understood that a separate short strap (not specifically illustrated but in the manner clearly shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 of the patent to Carl G. Simonsen, US. Pat. No. 3,49l,762.) will secure the upper central portion of each breast strap 32 to the clasp 24 in the same manner as does the strap 25. Thus, the upper portions of the breast straps 30 will be tied in with the upper portions of the breast cups 6.

It is to be understood that the elastic band 26 may be provided in various widths in accordance with the size and requirements of the particular brassiere. It will be readily apparent from the foregoing that the elastic band 26 will provide adequate support and hold down for the various portions of the brassiere and that by being permanently anchored to the terminal panels 17 and 20, when the brassiere is worn, adequate tension and support will be provided for the elastic band 26.

Although only a preferred embodiment of the invention has been specifically illustrated and described herein, it is to be understood that minor variations may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed as new:

1. A brassiere comprising a pair of shaped breast cups directly joined together, extension panels secured to the remote ends of said breast cups and cooperating attaching means carried by the remote ends of said extension panels, the brassiere being improved by a single elastic band extending entirely along the lower edge of said brassiere and terminating in connected relation relative to said attaching means whereby the entire lower portion of said brassiere snugly fits a wearers body with lower portions of said breast cups being snugly retained in place, the brassiere being otherwise free of elastic band material, said elastic band having the upper edge only thereof secured to said breast cups and said extension panels with the lower edge of said elastic being free to fit the contour of a wearer's body, said attaching means include terminal panels each secured to a respective extension panel remote from said breast cups, and said elastic band having terminal ends secured to said terminal panels for the full height of said elastic band, said brassiere being of the uplift type with each breast pocket having mounted in the lower portion thereof a breast shelf, each breast shelf being secured to both the lower edge of said breast pocket and to said elastic band.

2. The brassiere of claim 1 wherein each breast shelf is otherwise secured to the respective breast pocket at its connection to its respective extension panels, adjacent portions of said breast shelves being directly connected to each other independently of said breast pockets.

3. The brassiere of claim 2 wherein a pair of breast straps have adjacent ends secured to said breast shelves adjacent the connection between said breast shelves, said breast straps arching upwardly and then downwardly and being connected to remote ends of said breast pockets, and shoulder straps having forward ends thereof connected to said breast straps, rear ends of said shoulder straps being connected to said extension panels.

4. The brassiere of claim 3 wherein those portions of said breast straps secured to said breast shelves at the connection therebetween terminate at and are secured to said elastic band. 

1. A brassiere comprising a pair of shaped breast cups directly joined together, extension panels secured to the remote ends of said breast cups and cooperating attaching means carried by the remote ends of said extension panels, the brassiere being improved by a single elastic band extending entirely along the lower edge of said brassiere and terminating in connected relation relative to said attaching means whereby the entire lower portion of said brassiere snugly fits a wearer''s body with lower portions of said breast cups being snugly retained in place, the brassiere being otherwise free of elastic band material, said elastic band having the upper edge only thereof secured to said breast cups and said extension panels with the lower edge of said elastic being free to fit the contour of a wearer''s body, said attaching means include terminal panels each secured to a respective extension panel remote from said breast cups, and said elastic band having terminal ends secured to said terminal panels for the full height of said elastic band, said brassiere being of the uplift type with each breast pocket having mounted in the lower portion thereof a breast shelf, each breast shelf being secured to both the lower edge of said breast pocket and to said elastic band.
 2. The brassiere of claim 1 wherein each breast shelf is otherwise secured to the respective breast pocket at its connection to its respective extension panels, adjacent portions of said breast shelves being directly connected to each other independently of said breast pockets.
 3. The brassiere of claim 2 wherein a pair of breast straps have adjacent ends secured to said breast shelves adjacent the connection between said breast shelves, said breast straps arching upwardly and then downwardly and being connected to remote ends of said breast pockets, and shoulder straps having forward ends thereof connected to said breast straps, rear ends of said shoulder straps being connected to said extension panels.
 4. The brassiere of claim 3 wherein those portions of said breast straps secured to said breast shelves at the connection therebetween terminate at and are secured to said elastic band. 